Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2002 01:18:23 -0500
Reply-To: 3WMail Guest <steeles@HORIZONVIEW.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: 3WMail Guest <steeles@HORIZONVIEW.NET>
Subject: Re: Generation Span of the Lisst
Content-Type: text/plain
c.1966
I learned to drive alternately on my father's pristine '48 Chevy with three on the column and my older brother's '59 Volvo B. My Dad was willing to let me drive his prize Chevy around the block once-in-a-while. As I was his fifth son to learn to drive; he had seen-it-all by the time I got behind the wheel. I was 15 and sneaking the Volvo out at night to cruise the neighborhood with friends. The starter was bad so we had to push start it ... I figured it was better off running a little rather than sitting (Bro. was away during the VN war).
c.1968
The first VW in my life was my other older brother's '58 Beetle. He had bought it after returning home from the Navy and was going to college...40 hp and no heat....Brrrrrr. Can't remember him letting me drive that one. BUT...later, when he was away on his belated honeymoon trip (to Europe for many weeks) he let me drive his '67 Yellow and Black topped convertible...I was smitten.
A good friend also had a '68 and as noted earlier by someone...Boy! were they good at doughnuts in the fields?!...We were always careful to wipe her car down before returning it home for the night.
c.1974
College expenses had kept me in the Schwinn, G'LaPierre, C. Itoh and Sekai range of transportation costs. But as soon as possible, after graduating, I made the mistake of buying my first car... a '74 MGB.
I still have it and don't plan to ever sell it. What can I say? It's my first car. It IS fun , when it runs.
1980's
Several Volvos and a Honda Civic, with a Bu...ICK!!! thrown in and I finally got my own VW. It was an '81 Vanagon. I used it as a daily driver and for trips camping, skiing, canoeing, spelunking etc., etc. . The auxillary heater was a Godsend. I was actually pulled over in it for doing (+/-)90 mph!
1990's
I traded the van in on an '88 Jetta and then a new '92 Jetta. My '92 has been passed on to my two older sons and is spending time in Sicily with son #2 as I write. My '91 Caravelle came to me in 1995. It is an incredible vehicle...room, heat, relative speed and power.
I was completely satified with it until I joined the List and met a Westy. BUT, I can honestly say, if I had to have just one vehicle, it would be the '91 Caravelle.
2000
After a lot of looking, I picked up my '84 Westy in AZ (thanks again Karl Wolz) and I haven't looked back. I will pass it on to my nephew as soon as I find its replacement (ISO '87 or newer with auto and a/c)for camping and trips only.
2001
Twin sons #3 & #4 picked out a '90 Jetta and they have done miracles with it. I keep it running and they keep it looking good (while learning about the repairs, too). I also picked up an '81 diesel Rabbit (I love it!) and an '82 diesel Jetta donormobile and have transplanted the engine and tranny into an '82 Rabbit PU... which I may/may not use as a daily driver... can you say "fry oil truck"?
2002
After we find that elusive newer Westy, I plan on finding a Passat for my wife to replace her Saturn...great car...it's just not a VW.
BTW, I'm fifty (NO! that's not possible...NO Way!)...
Son #5 is 4 months old this week. Life is good.
Stephen
Chillicothe OH
(son#1 has a '98 GTi VR6, #2 has the '92 Jetta and a '68 Kaarman Ghia)
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